The Douglas Family of Salwarpe

The Douglas Family of Salwarpe, in Worcestershire, is well documented in the Douglas Archives under both Salwarpe and Fingland. The family traces its documented origins to William Douglas in 1170 and via the Drumlanrig line to Patrick Douglas who died in 1576 predeceasing his father Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig by two years. Patrick's mother was Margaret Douglas daughter of George Douglas Master of Angus. Patrick's parents were divorced and although his father remarried, he was named in his father's will and his son Hugh took over from him the inheritance of Morton Castle in Dumfriesshire.

The family lived there for several generations in close association with their cousins and neighbours the Dukes of Queensberry. William Douglas of Fingland was born at nearby Sanquhar Castle when Morton was in need of repair. He was a well-known Jacobite swordsman who served overseas and is famous as the author of the poem to Annie Laurie who he had wooed as a young man. He died in 1760 having latterly been appointed Commisioner of Supply for Dumfries.

His son General Archibald Douglas 1707-1778 managed to conceal his Jacobite roots. He served as aide de camp to George 11 at the Battle of Dettingen and was one of those responsible for escorting Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz to marry George 111 securing in the process positions for his daughters at Court. Although he moved the family to live in Witham Essex he remained MP for Dumfries Burghs from 1754 to 1774.

Archibald's youngest son Robert Douglas (1765-1806) was commissioned as a cornet before joining the church and taking on the living of Salwarpe. Salwarpe is a pretty and historic manorial village a few miles from Droitwich and the River Severn in Worcestershire. The village on the River Salwarpe is gathered around the church, historic Salwarpe Manor and the beautiful Georgian Rectory. Robert had 5 children, his eldest son Henry 15 children and his grandson William 16 and in all 4 generations of Douglases served at Salwarpe as vicars; the Victorian electoral rolls show that a sizeable part of the village had the surname Douglas. My grandfather Frank who died early of peritonitis in 1922 was the last Douglas vicar at Salwarpe although my grandmother retained the advowson for many years.

Douglases of Salwarpe have continued to produce large families. My father David who died in 1976 had 7 children all of whom now have large families and in the latest tally my father has 25 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren. We gather frequently for christenings and weddings but if cousins are included a very large venue is required. On 12th March 1995 everyone came together at Salwarpe - over 150 of us - for a surprise 80th birthday party for my father's sister Elisabeth otherwise known as Betsy. She had last seen the Rectory in the 1920s and thought she was being taken for a birthday drive. Salwarpe Church was packed to the gunnels and the vicar led a service of thanksgiving. Salwarpe Rectory was up for sale and the estate agent made the property available to us for the day. All the old paintings and porcelain were gathered and placed in their historic positions and Betsy who was an actress by profession presided and regaled us with stories of her memories of Salwarpe. A huge picnic was provided and family members of all ages participated in our family dance Sir Roger de Coverley and family favourites such as 'Kick the Can.' The Rectory which had been substantially extended by Douglases to accommodate growing families proved the perfect place for Hide and Seek. It is nowadays divided into 3 luxurious country houses.

Philip Douglas
7th June 2022